Here's what it looks like when Uber emails to notify you of the distinction:

What are the perks of being a VIP customer?

When you open your app, you see a VIP option along with UberX, UberBlack, and the other Uber features available in your city. When you select it, you'll only be given drivers with 4.8-star ratings and "high-quality cars."

Uber VIP isn't an option that's available everywhere — it's only available in certain areas, like New York City, Washington DC, and Denver. Its market-specific nature may be why the company doesn't advertise it like its other features.

A VIP trip costs the same as a normal UberBlack ride. Unfortunately, Uber says, there are fewer VIP cars on the road — presumably because the quality is higher, and you're getting only the top-tier drivers — so you may be stuck waiting a bit longer for your car.

Aside from better service, there doesn't seem to be much upside to Uber VIP. It's a loyalty program for its customers that might remind you of Uber's earliest days as a company, when the service was marketed as a way for people to feel like "ballers" when they needed a lift.